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Sunday, 30 July 2017

Gorgeous Day, Hanging out with Alpacas

Well it doesn't get better than the beautiful day we had today. It was sunny first thing in the morning and the temperature was lovely and hot. We even hung out down by the pool for a while. Husband went in, but it was still too cold for me (76 degrees F). It is difficult getting the pool up to temperature this summer due to lack of sunshine (we use solar heaters) and the fact that any heat we have is lost over night. If we get a couple more sunny days, it will make a huge difference!

Today our daughter went to a local alpaca farm. She has a summer job working for a radio station, driving around to events and places helping to promote them by posting photos and writing information that goes on the radio's website and other social media. She had contacted the owners to see if they would like her to promote their business and they were happy to have her. My husband and I tagged along. I had visited this farm a couple of years ago with my kids and previously posted about it. This was the first visit for my husband.

We learned a lot about alpacas and how to raise them from the owner. (He is a retired secondary school math teacher and was a fantastic tutor for our son this year, too!)

They all wanted a treat from the bucket! They are very gentle. One thing I love about them is the sound they make which is little bit like Chewbacca from Star Wars.

I think this little one is about three weeks to a month old. I just wanted to hug it, but it stayed just an arm's length away.

My daughter really tried to get these little ones to come closer.

Almost!!

No, this isn't a disturbing picture of an alpaca having some sort of seizure. She is just enjoying a nice rolly dust bath.

I'm a real sucker for animals. If money were no object, I would have a perfect little hobby farm with chickens, ducks, a couple alpacas, maybe a sheep or two, perhaps a miniature horse. I do realize what a lot of work it is to have animals, so for now I'm more than happy to visit other peoples' farms.

The alpacas are tidy, inquisitive animals. They are not good at being solitary animals, you should always have at least two. The couple who own the farm make most of their money selling the fleece. I am certainly not a knitter, so the fleece is of little interest to me. Because these pack animals are originally from South America, they have all been given Spanish names.

Back home after supper, I put in some time raking and loading up more apples. At least this bunch is bigger than the first very small ones which made clean up easier.

It is amazing what a difference a change in weather can make in one's mood and perspective. I was about to say I am looking forward to another nice day, but when I just checked the online forecast, it indicated rain for the next seven days. Oh well, I have some books from the library to keep me happy for a few days.

22 comments:

That was a good day. Did they spit at you? I'd have an animal sanctuary if I could afford it. Have to be a hedge fund manager to afford it. Maybe in my next life. Seven days of rain... I hope they are wrong as they often are.

I love alpacas. Visited my first alpaca farm last summer -- it was fascinating. Love the photos.

I had to laugh about the apples. I just finished a Louise Penny book set in Quebec province in September and at the bistro, the dinner parties, everything -- they had apples of a sort. Apple cider, salad with apple and fennel, apple salsa, apple crisp... I'm wondering if you might not be going through the same thing soon!

Jeannie!! I LOVE Louise Penny's books! I always want to eat what the characters are eating. I've read every book she has written so far. I keep checking the library to see if she has a new one out yet.

We have a herd of alpaca just up the hill from us (the owner is a retired hedge fund manager and recently planted a vineyard to produce English sparkling wine!) and I buy my undyed wool direct from the house and dye it at home with home-grown and foraged matter. The fleeces are processed in Cornwall and the end product is absolutely delicious to knit, crochet and weave with. When one of the alpaca gives birth the owners always post a photo on a gatepost giving details of the newborn including its name!

Alpacas are lovely little creatures, the babies look like stuffed animals! We have an Alpaca farm in our little town and they host farm days - I'm with you- not a knitter but the alpaca wool is soft and luxurious.

Hi Jenn :) I know that feeling...good weather makes my mood soar. When I see days and days of rain, I feel a little defeated! Those alpacas are beautiful, and I agree. If I had the money, I'd have a huge hobby farm...I'd be happy to do all the work needed to keep all the animals happy and healthy! You're right though, it takes money. Someone I knew a while back kept adopting more and more animals for his hobby farm, mostly horses too. His heart was in the right place, saving them from a worse fate, but he couldn't afford their care and ended up getting rid of them...only to start adopting more. When Alex and I got our third dog, he looked at me and said "this is a sickness...we can't stop adopting!"...our wallets showed us it was time to stop for now though!

It looks like a good time was had by all.We have a friend who has an alpaca farm. She sells the fiber and she also makes custom hats and felted jewelry. The alpacas are so cute and friendly. Not only do they sound like Chewbacca...when she clips them, they look like characters from a Dr. Seuss book! :)

I love alpacas! My children and I would be willing to trade in our sheep for a few, but my husband is attached to the ewes and ram. The alpaca wool is the softest of anything I've ever felt. It looks like a great day.

About Me

I started blogging because I started reading people's blogs and really enjoyed them. I have always been a writer. I've kept a journal since I was a teenager (which was quite some time ago!), I wrote stories as a child, and I think things through by writing them down and getting them out of my brain. At the moment I blog about my life without getting too personal. I get a little thrill when someone leaves a comment, so I try to comment on other people's blogs as well. So... go ahead... make my day.

About Me

I am a wife and mother of a twenty-one year-old and a seventeen-year-old living in rural Ontario, Canada. Join me in my journey through gardening, motherhood, living in a century-plus home, surviving husband projects (give me strength), and working full time. I love reading, nature, laughing, small furry animals, and a good cup of coffee on the porch (or perhaps a glass of red wine depending on the day!).